Tuesday, February 18th, 2025
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Dining Updates: New Director, Chick-Fil-A & Student Involvement

A closer look at what’s new and what’s to come from Millersville University Dining and Catering Services in 2025.

Dining at Millersville University is undergoing several new updates in 2025 to improve student experience, diversify its offerings and solicit feedback from the community. The University hired a new dining director who began working in November 2024. Daryl Matthews comes to MU with nearly three decades of experience in university dining and catering, most recently from Lake Superior State University.   

Q&A WITH DARYL MATTHEWS, DIRECTOR OF DINING AT MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY

1. When did your love of cooking first begin?

My first job as a teenager was working in an upscale restaurant and it sparked my passion for cooking and hospitality. I think it was the combination of learning a new craft and the human connection in service that created a very meaningful connection for me at a young age. I began to appreciate cooking not only as a skill but also as a form of art. 

2. What sparked your interest in the industry? 

Like I mentioned, I’ve been in the hospitality industry since my teenage years, starting in restaurants and quickly falling in love with the fast-paced, service-driven environment. To deepen my knowledge and commitment to this field, I earned a bachelor’s degree in hotel, restaurant, and hospitality management from East Stroudsburg University. 

Millersville University has always stood out to me for two key reasons. First, I grew up about an hour from campus and still have family nearby, so the opportunity to return to the area—after being away for 28 years—feels both familiar and exciting.  

Second, the University’s Dining and Catering Department operates as a self-operated program and is the only dining and catering service that is self-operated in the PASSHE system, a passion of mine in this field. I’ve always believed that this type of program fosters the ability to make the most meaningful and positive impact on dining service experiences for the teams involved and the community they serve. I’m eager to bring my hospitality experience, leadership skills, and passion for self-operated dining services to campus and contribute to the department’s continued success.

3. Is there a chef that inspires you?

Thomas Keller is a chef that has inspired me throughout my career.

4. What experiences have prepared you for this role?

27 years of diverse experience in University Dining and Catering as a director. I have managed large, mid-size, and small institutions’ dining and catering departments which gave me many diverse experiences—and the adaptability to work with both self-operated and contracted food services. 

During my career, I’ve worn several hats at one job, from catering manager to overseeing retail operations, concessions, vending and residential dining. My experiences taught me to embrace learning moments and to adapt to the uniqueness of each institution.  I also learned that you must have operational expertise and the ability to connect with students, staff and faculty. All of these things helped me gain a comprehensive, well-rounded perspective on all facets of operations.

5. What are your plans for the future of Millersville University Dining?  

My plans for the future are to ensure the needs and expectations of the students, faculty and staff are being met by increasing dining options, enhancing food quality, and improving customer service. Some of the ways we plan to do this is by keeping up with food service trends, continuously introducing new concepts, increase engagement with the campus community, and enhance our sustainability efforts and initiatives

6. What is your favorite part about working at Millersville so far?

The people. Everyone is incredibly supportive and made me very welcome. 

7. Can you give us an update on the food truck?

Currently the food truck is in storage for the winter. Our goal is to have the students come up with a name and food concept for the food truck to reflect the interests and preferences of the student body.

8. What’s your go to take out order?

A chicken burrito from Chipotle and orange chicken when I get Chinese.  

9.Tell us about the Student Dining Service Committee. What is it? 

The committee was created to foster communication between students and dining service management. It serves as a bridge for students to voice their needs, concerns, suggestions for improvements, and feedback regarding the dining services through monthly meetings. 

Students share their ideas on things like new menu items, changes to the dining environment, or improvements in service.  

Dining services management listens carefully to these contributions and works collaboratively with the committee to address the concerns. The management then translates these insights into actionable steps that aim to refine and improve the dining services, ensuring they meet the expectations and needs of the student body. This collaborative effort helps shape the future of dining services at Millersville University, creating a more responsive and student-centered dining experience. If students wish to be on the committee all they have to do is email me at daryl.matthews@millersville.edu.  

10. What about Chick-Fil-A? 

The much-anticipated arrival of MU’s own Chick-Fil-A is slated to open during the spring 2024 semester. Check back for more details and updates here: millersville.edu/dining. 

11. Are you hiring student workers?

Yes, we’re always hiring student workers to join our team. This is an excellent opportunity for students to earn some extra money while enjoying several key perks that make the job both convenient and rewarding, and you can apply here: https://jobs.millersville.edu/postings/search?query=&query_v0_posted_at_date=&query_organizational_tier_3_id=any&577=8&commit=Search 

 Here are some of the benefits: 

  • Free Meals: Student workers receive free meals during their shifts, allowing them to enjoy a variety of food options without spending extra money 
  • Flexible Scheduling: We offer flexible scheduling that works around students’ class times, making it easier to balance work and school responsibilities. 
  • Convenient Location: Dining service jobs are located right on campus. 
  • Build Work Experience: Working in Dining Services provides valuable work experience in customer service, food preparation, and teamwork, which can enhance a student’s resume for future job opportunities. 

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